Possible conflict of interest over Trump ties to law firm in the Philippines

The community is concerned over possible conflict of interest between President Donald Trump, his daughter Ivanka, and their ties to a law firm in the Philippines, which is run by a high-ranking government official.

The Guardian reports that President Trump and Ivanka use a Manila law firm headed by Elpidio C. Jamora Jr, who is the chairman of the Philippines’ largest state-owned and operated construction companies.

The Trump’s have used the firm since at least 2007, to register trademarks for the Trump organization, and more recently, for Ivanka’s personal brand.

The Guardian reports that Ivanka Trump’s fashion line has used Jamora’s law firm to apply for three patents since her father was elected president.

The report says that this raises concerns that the Trump family’s businesses could be benefitting from his office.

While there’s no evidence that the Trump’s were shown any favoritism in their applications for trademarks, the report pointed out that Trump’s connection to the Jamora could open opportunities for the Philippines to seek influence over him, by leveraging the trademark approval process.

Jamora, for his part, told The Guardian that he did not personally work on the Trump’s trademark applications, while a spokesman for the Trump organization said Jamora’s law firm would have been hired by Trump’s outside trademark attorney to act in limited capacity as local counsel.

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